Relevance of big data to forensic accounting practice and education
ISSN: 0268-6902
Article publication date: 10 October 2018
Issue publication date: 20 May 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relevance of Big Data to forensic accounting practice and education by gathering opinions from a sample of academics and practitioners in China.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct a survey of academics and practitioners regarding the desired demand, importance and content of Big Data educational skills and topics for forensic accounting education to effectively respond to challenges and opportunities in the age of Big Data.
Findings
Results indicate that the demand for and interest in Big Data/data analytics and forensic accounting will continue to increase; Big Data/data analytics and forensic accounting should be integrated into the business curriculum; many of the suggested Big Data topics should be integrated into forensic accounting education; and some attributes and techniques of Big Data are important in improving forensic accounting education and practice.
Research limitations/implications
Readers should interpret the results with caution because of the sample size (95 academics and 103 practitioners) and responses obtained from academics and practitioners in one country (China) that may not be representative of the global population.
Practical implications
The results are useful in integrating Big Data topics into the forensic accounting curriculum and in redesigning the forensic accounting courses/programs.
Social implications
The results have implications for forensic accountants in effectively fulfilling their responsibilities to their profession and society by combating fraud.
Originality/value
This study provides educational, research and practical implications as Big Data and forensic accounting are advancing.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This manuscript benefits from the invaluable comments and suggestions of participants at the 2016 World Business Ethics Forum in Hong Kong, the 2017 Midyear Forensic Accounting Conference of the American Accounting Association in Orlando in March 2017, and the 2017 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting in San Diego, in August 2017. The authors thank the workshop participants at the University of Memphis, the United International College and the Sino-US College in Zhuhai, China for their valuable comments on the earlier draft of the manuscript with gratitude, this research is funded by a research grant provided by the University Grant Committee (project reference: UGC/FDS17/B02/14). The authors appreciate support given by Tung Wah College in Hong Kong.
Citation
Rezaee, Z. and Wang, J. (2019), "Relevance of big data to forensic accounting practice and education", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 268-288. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-08-2017-1633
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited